Chapter 111: Patti Callahan Henry
& David Wallace Wells
June 12, 2019
This week's beach read explores the power of memories with New York Times Patti Callahan Henry.
Then we get a harsh look at what's in store if we don't do something about global warming.
An author's past and a story's future comes together.
“Memories are alive, and they can take over; they have their own life apart from us. But what are they really?
Just some amorphous, dreamy things that shift with time, almost like ghosts. Still they cause us pain or
happiness or they keep us from doing things or cause us to shiver inside and wake us in the middle of the night.”
Through the words of the protagonist in her upcoming summer release, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER
(Berkley Trade Paperback Original; June 4, 2019; $16), New York Times bestselling novelist Patti Callahan
Henry invites readers to meditate on the unequivocal power of our memories and the myriad of ways they can influence each of our chosen paths in life.
As a former nurse, much of Henry’s graduate work focused on injuries of the brain and memory, leading her to deep reflection on what it means for families who must learn to cope with what medical professionals refer to as “ambiguous loss.” How does one grieve for a loved one that still lives on but no longer seems to be the same person? Inspired by her professional experiences with memory loss, Henry wanted to explore the concept further as a novelist, resulting in her new book, THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER—a heart-rending story about a broken family that is forced to rally when tragedy strikes.
Ten years ago the unthinkable happened. Lena Donohue experienced the ultimate betrayal by her sister—and on her wedding day, no less. A betrayal so profound and painful that the only way she knew how to survive it was to run, something she hasn’t stopped doing since. Now, having reinvented herself as a travel writer based in New York, it feels like she might be able to avoid her past forever. But of course, history has a way of returning to the present.
When her father’s health begins to fail, Lena must return to her hometown of Watersend, SC, where she has no choice but to put aside her own heartbreak and work with her estranged sister and younger brother to prepare for the worst. As Alzheimer’s rapidly claims their father’s precious memories, the siblings find themselves in a race against time to learn all they can about his life before it’s too late. But things take an unexpected turn when they stumble upon a life-shattering secret from his past that none of them could have predicted.
Henry beautifully captures the atmospheric charm of South Carolina’s Lowcountry in a perfect read for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Dorothea Benton Frank, and all lovers of Southern women's fiction. THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER is full of genuine interactions between characters and unexpected turns of events that will leave readers meditating on the unpredictable path of life.
THE FAVORITE DAUGHTER
by Patti Callahan Henry
Berkley Trade Paperback Original
On sale date: June 4, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-399-58313-1
List Price: $16.00
Inspiration Behind the Novel
About the author
Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times bestselling author whose novels include The
Bookshop at Water’s End, The Idea of Love, The Stories We Tell, and Driftwood
Summer. As Patti Callahan, she’s the author of the USA Today bestseller Becoming Mrs.
Lewis. Short-listed for the Townsend Prize for Fiction, and nominated multiple times for
the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Book Award for Fiction, Patti is a
frequent speaker at luncheons, book clubs, and women’s groups.
Visit her online at PattiCallahanHenry.com, Facebook.com/PattiCallahanHenry and @PCalHenry.
Read More about the Women's Alzheimer's Movement.
Praise for The Favorite Daughter
"[I]n Henry’s satisfying latest novel . . . . readers will be immersed in this moving tale, hungry to learn whether love and family will overcome betrayal, secrets, and heartache." —Publishers Weekly
"[H]enry’s latest (after Becoming Mrs. Lewis, 2018) packs an emotional wallop, delving into the bonds and tragedies that make a family. . . . Readers of thoughtful family dramas will be drawn to the travails of the Donohue clan.” —Booklist
“In exquisitely-wrought prose, Patti Henry lyrically examines the meaning
of forgiveness and the inexorable tug of home.”
—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The High Tide Club
“The Favorite Daughter is both heartfelt and heartbreakingly honest in its portrayal of a family once divided by scandal and brought together through the power of memories. Moving, intelligent, full of twists and turns, I loved it! Patti Callahan Henry shines at family dramas and The Favorite Daughter is her best!”
—Mary Alice Monroe, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests
“A layered, spellbinding novel about families and lovers and the meaning of home. Above all, it’s about
memory, how it shapes us, fools us, and warms our hearts. This is one truly beautiful book.”
—Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of A Nantucket Wedding
Mentions & Accolades
"Named one of 10 Southern books for your summer reading list." —AJC
"Scribes of Summer"Patti Callahan Henry & The Favorite Daughter Interview —Atlanta Magazine
"2019 Summer Reading List" 30 of the latest beach reads, mysteries, Southern fiction and more to read as temperatures rise —Deep South Magazine
"The 34 Best New Books to Put in Your Beach Bag This Summer" —PopSugar
"The 10 best books of June to read while you soak up the sun" —Christian Monitor
Tags: #patticallahanhenry #thefavoritedaughter #memories #home #family #domestic #contemporary #fiction #womensficiton #alzheimer's #lowcountry #sc #ireland #mothersdaughters #siblings #newsradio #podcast #authorinterview